Automatic grading table with gauging slots



' 3 Sheets-Sheet l GEORGE M sMlTH 'ATToRNE Sept. 2, 1947.. G. M, sMlTHAUTOMATIC GRADING TABLE WITH GAUGING SLOTS Filed Feb. 10, 1945 A sept.2, 1947-.

G. M. SMITH v Filed Feb. l0, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GEORGENLSMITH ATTORNE Sept. 2, 1947. G. M. SMITH 2,426,953

y AUTOMATIC GRADING' TABLE WITH GAUGING SLOTS Filed Feb. 10, 1945l 3SheetvS-Sheet 3 INV ENTOR GEORGE M.SM|TH chine which may be formedfrom/d;k anywsuitablg material and which, generally' speaking, isV1 of;

elongated, rectangular form. This frame may be of any suitable ordesirable length, rividthand. height and may be composed,a's'shown',"^of"cor= ner uprights or legs Il) connected together'bysuitable transverse members II and longitudinal members I2. Y

*Tlee Ideehde inelddeewhetmer be termed@ gradite telde? designated es t@ererwteh the te: meteee er ethergertielee. to. beeraded, are` edf vancedand which has therein, at successively advanced locations,l asvregardsthe direction of.;ad Vance of the articles spaces ofsuccessively great er. Widths which, extend.treaerereelrwith respect tothe direction ofladvanceofmthe articles and threuehwhiehthe ert'eleemer.grat/.nete Wheref by their grading as to `size ispeilectevd.

The grading tebletis leeetedtpreierablv, et or near the top of the frameAvand extends substantially fromside toside andirom end wend thereof,and the d ireotionof adyane ofthe artieles te be graded preferably.isloneitddinelly of said table. In any event;saidjgraglingtable,preferably, is composed),` inpargofha pluralityof rollers I3 and in partof a plurality ofwshelves or platforms I4 one in irontvof Yeach of ,thegrad,- ing spaces designated ask I5, although it may be composed onlyofrrollers or onlyvof shelf or platfferm elemedtseuehias ereindiedtedatfld- The tellers" 1.3,..the shelvesor pletfernig i#erid mdehide andthe rollers 4IBL; dreierably...dre. of edueI diemetereany. event. the.grading Speeee l5. 1ere fdfrmed ley. Speelde. adiaeentreire efthe'rellersrredeterminedg etenees deert., end between eeehedieeent reir.eieeid tellers.. there is` `ii'iteriivosed one of theA shelves orplatforms I4, Irit'hiS eenneeten .end es illuetrdtedidthe tree.,- entinstance, "there are three pairsuofthe rollers I3 and two of the shelfor platform elementsl therebetween.HV 'lfhisg howevenfhis" an arbitrarymember 'df' Seid paire. efjrellers .edd eeidehelf. .er platform elementswhich may `be increased or decreased as desired.

The rollers VVI3 andthe shelves or platforms yI4* may be supported upona frame Afin, any suit.-4 able or`des`ired manner. For example, fthe'roll.- ers I3 .may include shafts or endl t'ur'inions I6 which may `bevjournalled inith'e; logitudinally 'exe tending members I2 :off tht;lframe A, and the shelves or platformsjld maybevsuitably fastened at?their ends to said members I2`."Preferalbl y', thetopsof the roller`s"I3-aredispos'ed in' a common horizontal plane, whereas the shelvesorplatforms'` I4- preferably are" slightlynclind'upwardly as regardsthe"'clirecton'or advance of the articles; Moreover,` eachshelt'l.preferablygis disposed substantiallyV tangentially tothatop roftherearmost of the'pa'ir of 'rollers infrontV thereof fcrsmooth; travelAofiarticles onto. thejsame from vsaidzr'earmost rollers; Furthermore;the

front and the rear marginal portions of the shelves or platforms I4preferably are turned downwardly and inwardly to avoid sharp edges whichmight tend to cut or bruise the tomatoes or other articles beingadvanced over the table t. Each shelf or platform I4 preferably extends,as shown., betweenthe rearniost of thepair of rollinffrorit thereof.'and the forwardmost of the pair of rollers I3 at the rear thereof.

Preferably, but not necessarily, each grading space` IQ is subdividedinto rectangular spaces byjazseies of short, parallel rods I'I spacedapart distance corresponding to the diameter or size of the articles tokb edischarged or dropped out at hnl?.Dilticlllhstation and which shortrods Il extendlongitudinally of the machine and which may: bezcaijried:by arms I8 extending from cross bars' IB's'ecured at'tli'eir ends tothe longitudinal siderframe members I2. Thus, said rods I'I cooperatewith the spaces I5 to insure accurate gradingvof .thefavrtiolesiaccording to s izeat cach Pierde 'er Stetied.-

' TliQfQllerS ,I# -alie.deignedftdbe rotated dur- Pien.. fit-the.maehi-ne..tov assist in ede he articles to be gradedzover the ,grade ingta edt,l af' in this connection, anysutable means may be proyidedforrotatingsaid rollers.

l?freferably,A however, forA themsake. of economy l and' simplicity,sprocket gearing is employed. for rotatingsaidL --r0l1etS andv this,.sprocket gearing mayl besef'E the forrr1; `sho,wn. In. other. words,eeeerdieg tette... construction. mustratedfin the drawings, thefranfie,A has suitably. mounted thereonat oneendthereof andextendingtransversely witl 1 respect thereto, ahhorizontally dise Dededt Deter..take-.ed shaft. 2 0. which may be driyen.Y in any suitablet manner` and.which has xedtheteena srrecket .wheel 2 i.. At the .opposi end ofU- theframe `A vis an .,arm. 22. .which is vted at one'end tosaid frame, as,indicated c1323., o `o rxvard and rearward swinging..move.- rn e nti`and Which, at, its free end,. carries.. a Germanien, idlensproclfrctwheei 24e..

QyentheSDrQCket Wheels 2I and 24 is engaged an endlesssprockethainlwhile iixedon the shafts vor triinnicnsl6 .,of. the..rollers.. I3. 4are sprocket ,wh,eels ,26 with. Whichone reach. of Asaidsprooketphain .25i s engaged.. Accordingly, rotationofJ the shaft 20 iseffective to. rotate .therollers I .3, and in`rthis,.connection.thedrection.of rota-V tion;,o f,said.IQllersiS,oicoursaina direction .to adyanpe the ,articles oyer.. .the gradingytable t towardk the V widerpf the Sgrading.spaces I5..-A

A suitable spring 21; is .proyidedto .tend con-.- -Siillfllhlld Swingthe. .a1' m, 22; rearwardly to .main-l. tainvthehainjytaut, andanelectric motor. 28 orptljler suitable prime mover located at`anysuitable point and connected.. to. the. .shaft 20.- in. .anySlltablemannen. may be, provided for.-rotating lsaid shaftu'lnthisconnection,.and as. illustrated inthe drawingathemotor 28 is mounted.adjacent to the mac hine .and is .operatively connected` to thfshate2ll`for driving.the samethrough .the instrumentality of an. .endlesssprocket `chain. 29 exlelldn Over sprocketwheels and .3 I fixed 0K1. the.Shaft of said`A motorandpn the shaft 20.,. reSheetivelv-f.

Inny instancemhereany two .ofthe rollers I3 vare disposed soclosely.adiacent to each other Eas jgo preclude ,the` possibilityofequipping both of the .Sdmeat corresponding. ends thereof withsprooletwhegels 26; to be engaged, by.. .the sprocket ehcinlione Qisaidrollersmeybeequipped with a .sprocket .wheelz to .engage said chain and..tov

bedriren.therstrandthetiro rollers .may be prof vided at their op-positeends with sprocket wheels 32 connected by a sprocket chain 33 wherebythe other is driven. In the present machine thereis a driving connectionof' this character between the front roller of the first pair and alead-in roller 34 for the articles to be graded disposed in front of thesaid front roller of the rst pair, the said lead-in roller 34 beingdriven directly by the sprocket chain 25 and the said front roller ofthe iirst pair being driven by said roller 34.

In the present machine dependence is not placed solely upon rotation ofthe rollers I3 to advance the articles to be graded over the gradingtable because the table t may be composed of the platform member I4. Onthe contrary, other and more p-ositively acting means is provided notonly for the purpose of advancing the articles over the grading table,but for dislodging and advancing any articles which may become lodged inthe grading spaces I5.

To this end, there is provided on the shafts I6 to therear of eachgrading space I5 or on trunnions I6 of the lead-in roller 34, as thecase may be, sprocket wheels 35, while on the shafts or trunnions I6 ofthe front rollers of the second and subsequent pairs of the rollers I3,adjacent to opposite ends thereof, are mounted, for free rotationrelative thereto, idler sprocket wheels 36. In addition, each idlersprocket wheel 36 has related thereto a pair of idler sprocket wheels31, which may be mounted upon the members I2 and which are disposedabove and forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, of said idler sprocketwheels 36.

Upon the rear end of the frame A, at preferably a slightly higherelevation than the rearmost idler sprocket wheels 31, is suitablymounted a horizontal shaft 38 which extends transversely of the machineand which has mounted thereon a pair of sprocket wheels 39. In addition,two other transversely extending, horizontal, shafts 48 and 4I aresuitably mounted upon the frame A at the front and the rear endsthereof, respectively, suitably below the grading table t, and havemounted thereon pairs of sprocket wheels 42 and 43, respectively.

On the power take-olf shaft 20 and on the shaft 4I are fixed sprocketwheels 44 and 45, respectively, which are connected by an endlesssprocket chain 46, whereby said shaft 4I is driven by said powertake-olf shaft 28, while extending beneath the sprocket wheels 42 and 43of the shafts 40 and 4I, respectively, over the idler sprocket wheels 35of the lead-in collar 34 and over the sprocket wheels 39 of the shaft38, as well as over the pairs of idler'sprocket wheels 31 and beneaththe idler sprocket wheels 3S, are endless sprocket chains 41 which areconnected at points suitably spaced apart along their lengths by articlepusher rods 48, extending transversely of the bed or table t.

Due to the described mounting of the sprocket chains 41, they are drivenin harmony with the.-

roller 34 and the pairs of rollers I3 and their upper reaches are causedto travel over the table t toward the rear of the machine to cause thepusher rods 48 to engage articles disposed upon said table t andpositively to advance them theref along.

The articles, such as tomatoes,` to be graded in any suitable manner.

shelf or chute 4B which is inclined downwardly toward the front end Yofthe table t and upon which the tomatoes or the like may be deliveredeither manually or by a suitable conveyor, designated as,50,. to roll orslide down said shelf to the front end of said table t. In any event,

, assuming delivery of tomatoes or the like to the front end of thetable t, and driving of the rollers 34 and I3 andthe pusher rods 48 indirections to advance the tomatoes or the like over said table towardits discharge end, it is apparent that the smaller tomatoes or the likewill gravitate through the forward or narrower of the grading spaces I5and that the larger tomatoes or the like will bridge and pass over thenarrower of said grading spaces and gravitate through only the wider ofthe same. Thus, depending upon the number of the grading spaces I5 whichmay be provided and the differences in their widths, the tomatoes or thelike will be graded as to size with all necessary accuracy.`

The pairs of idler sprocket wheels 31 are disposed so that the upperreaches of the sprocket chains 41 travel over the shelves or platformsI4 at suitable elevations thereabove, whereby the pusher rods 48 alsoare caused to travel over said shelves or platforms at suitableelevations thereabove so as to engage the tomatoes or the forms.

like and advance them over said shelves or platforms. vDuring theiradvance the tomatoes or the like may roll or slide, but since theshelves or platforms I4 are at, and since tomatoes and the like have hatends, their natural tendency, as they are advanced over said shelves orplatforms, is to seekpositions with one or the other of their flat endsengaging said shelves or plat- Thereby they will be positioned ororiented to subsequently slide over said shelves or platforms and to bedelivered from the latter to the grading spaces I5 with their flat endsdisposed lowermost and uppermost, respectively, for

Some of the tomatoes or the like may become.

lodged in the spaces at the grading station I5. Due, however, to thedescribed disposition of the idler sprocket wheels 31 relative to theidler sprocket wheels 36, the upper reaches of the sprocket chains 41and, consequently, the pusher rods 48, are caused to travel downwardlythrough the grading table t rearwardly of or preceding the gradingspaces I5 and upwardly through said grading spaces as shown in Figures 1and 3. As a result, any tomatoes or the like which may have becomelodged in the grading spaces I5 will be engaged from beneath and liftedand dislodged and further advanced by one or another of the pusher rods48 as the latter successively move upwardly through said grading spaces.

It will thus be apparent that the present machine not only is operableto position and to deliver the tomatoes or the like to the gradingstation spaces |56 for most accurate grading of the same by said spaces,but that said spaces will be maintained free of lodged tomatoes or thelike whereby the machine is rendered highly efficient in operation.Obviously, the pusher rods 48 will gently engagev not only the tomatoesor the like resting upon the shelves or platforms I4, but also anytomatoes or the like which may become lodged in the grading spaces I5,and will alicante' gently li'ftand dislodge` the latter .tomatoes `orYthe like. Therefore, .any cuttingv or .bruising of the tomatoes or thelike bythe present machine' means, such asindicated at l, maybeprovldedY below the grading table tto. receive the graded tomatoes orthe like which drop through the grading spaces l5. Moreover,suitableishields 52 may extend from the members I2 in overlyingrelationship to the upper reaches of the sprocket chains 4'1 to preventcontact/of the tomatoes or the like with said sprocket chains.

From the foregoing'description :considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction andoperation of the present machine will be clearly understood and itsIadvantages appreciated. It is desired to point out, however, that Whileonly a single, specific structuraiembodiment of the machine has beenillustrated and described, the same is readily capable of Vvarious otherspecifically 'difierentstructural embodiments within thevsplrit andscope of the invention as defined in the-apE pendedclaims. y

What I'claim is:

L A machine for gradingarticles according to size comprising agrading-table to have the articles to be graded advanced thereover, saidtable having-therein, at successively advanced locationsas regards thedirection of advance of the articles, a plurality of article gradingstation spaces of -successively greateriwidths and which extendtransversely to the direction of advance of the articles and throughwhich the articles may gravitate, saidtable including flat shelf orplatform elementsforming continuous uninterrupted surfaces between saidgrading station spaces, a

plurality of spaced article pusher rods extending transversely relativeto said table, andV means for advancing said pusher rods substantiallythe length of said table to cause them to advance the articlesthereover. f

2. Af machine for grading articles according to size comprising -agrading table to have thearticles to be graded advanced therever, saidtable having therein, at successively advanced locations as regards thedirection of advance of thel articles, .a plurality of r'article gradingstation spaces of successively greater rwidths and which extend`transversely to the direction of advance of the articles and throughwhichthe articlesfmay gravitate, said table includingat shelf`orpl'atform elements forming continuous uninterrupted surfaces betweensaid grading spaces, said shelfor platform elements being upwardlyinclined as regardsthe direction of adv-ance of the articles, and meansadapted to travel substantially the Alength 0I"A said table foradvancing the articlesover said shelf or platform elements to saidgrading space's.- l

' 3. A machine vfor grading articles according to size comprising agrading table tohave the articles to be graded advanced thereover, saidtable having therein, at successively advanced locations as regards thedirection of advance of the articles, a plurality of article gradingstation spaces of successively greater widths-and'whichextend-transverselyto'the direction of Vadvance of the articles andthrough whichthearticlesmay gravitate, varticle pusher'meansextendingsubstantially across said table, means to advance said pushermeans substantially-the length of Ysaid table-topermit them to `advancethearticles to be 'graded thereover, andmeans to vcause said pushermeans, vduring the advanceof the 'pusher means'to travel upwardlythrough said grading stationspaces to dislodge from said spaces and tofurther advance 'any articles which may become lodged in said spaces.

LA machine for grading articles according to sizecomprlsing a grading'table to have the articlesto be graded advanced thereover, said tablehaving therein, at successively advanced locations as regards the.direction of advance of the articles, a plurality of article gradingstation spaces ofsuccessively greater widths and which extendtransversely to the direction of advance of the articles and throughwhich the articles may gravitate, said table-being composed in part of.pairs of spacedrollers which extend transversely to the direction ofadvance'of the articles and the rollers of the respective .pairs ofwhich are laterally spaced Yapart `to provide said grading spaces,spaced article pusher means extending substantially across said table,means to advance said pusher means substantially the length of saidtable tocause them to advancethe articles to be gradedithereover, andmeans to cause said pusher means during their advance to travel upwardlythrough said grading station spaces to dislodge from said spaces V'andto further advance any articles whichmay become lodged in said spaces.

5. 'A machine for grading articles according to size comprising agrading table to have the articlesY to be graded advanced thereover,said table having therein, at successively advanced locations as regardsthe direction. of advance of the articles, a plurahly of article gradingStation spaces of successively greater Widths and which extendtransverselyto the direction of advance of the articles and throughwhich the articles may .gravitate, means in said vgrading station spacesdividing them into a plurality of spaces each of a sizecorresponding tothe size of the individual article to be graded at each grading stationspaced article pusher means extending substantially across said table,means to advance said pusher means substantially the length of saidtable'to cause them to advance the articles to be graded thereover, andmeans to cause said pusher means during their advance to travel upwardlythrough said grading station spaces to dislodge from said spaces and tofurther advance any articles which may become lodged insaid spaces,-

said. dividing means in said grading station spaces terminating 'shortofthe path of movementof said pusher means.

6. vA machine for grading articles according to size comprising `agrading table to have the articles to be graded advanced thereover, saidtable Vhaving therein, at successively advanced locations as regardsYthe direction of advance of the articles, a plurality of articlegrading station spaces of successively greater widths and which extendtransversely to the direction of advance of the .articles and throughwhich the articles may gravitate, said table being composed in part ofpairs of rollers which extend transversely to the direction of advanceof the articles and the rollers of the respective pairs of which arelaterally spaced apart to provide said grading spaces, said table beingcomposed in other part of shelf or platform elements between saidpairsof rollers, article pusher rods extending transversely relative to saidtable, means to advance saidepusher rods over said shelf or platformelements to cause them to advance the articles to be graded over saidshelf or platform Yelements to saidgrading spaces, and means to causesaid rods to travel downwardly through said table forwardly of the frontroller of each pair and upwardly through the grading spaces between therollers of the respective pairs, thereby to dislodge from said gradingspaces and to further advance any articles which may become lodged insaid grading spaces.

7. A machine for grading articles according to size comprising a gradingtable to have the articles to be graded advanced thereover, said tablehaving therein, at successively advanced locations, as regards thedirection of advance of the articles, a plurality of article gradingspaces of successively greater widths which extend transversely to thedirection of advance of the articles and through which the articles maygravitate, said table being composed in part of pairs of rollers whichextend transversely to the direction of advance of the articles, therollers of the respective pairs being laterally spaced apart to providesaid grading spaces, said table being composed on other part of iiatshelf or platform sections between said pairs of rollers, idler wheelsat the ends of and axially aligned with the front roller of each pair, apair of idler wheels related to each first mentioned idler wheel anddisposed forwardly and rearwardly thereof, respectively, and thereabove,endless sprocket chains extending over said pairs of idler wheels andbeneath said first mentioned idler wheels, article pusher rods extendingbetween said sprocket chains, and means for driving said sprocket chainsto cause said rods to move over said shelf or platform elements toadvance articles thereover to said grading spaces and also to cause saidrods to travel upwardly through said grading spaces to dislodgetherefrom and to further advance any articles which may become lodgedtherein.

8. A machine for grading articles according to size comprising a gradingtable to have the articles to be graded advanced thereover, said tablehaving therein at successively advanced locations, as regards thedirection of advance of the articles, a plurality of article gradingspaces of successively' greater widths and which extend transversely tothe direction of advance of the articles and through which the articlesmay gravitate, an idler wheel at each side of the machine in advance ofeach grading space, a pair of idler wheels related to each rst mentionedidler wheel and disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the rst idlerWheel, respectively, endless sprocket chain extending over said pair ofidler wheels and beneath said first mentioned idler wheels, articlepusher rods extending between said sprocket chains, and means fordriving said sprocket chains to cause said rods to advance articles oversaid table and also to cause said rods to travel downwardly through saidtable in advance of said grading spaces and upwardly through saidgrading spaces to dislodge therefrom and to further advance any articleswhich may become lodged in said spaces.

9. A machine for grading articles according to size comprising a frameincluding side members, a grading table carried by said frame to haveadvanced thereover the articles to be graded, said table having thereinat successively advanced locations, as regards the direction of advanceof the articles, a plurality of article grading spaces of successivelygreater widths and through which the articles may gravitate, said tablebeing composed in par-t of pairs of rollers which extend transversely tothe direction of advance of the articles, the rollers of the respectivepairs being spaced apart to provide said grading spaces, said tablebeing composed in other part of flat shelf or platform elements betweensaid pairs of rollers, said rollers including shaft elements at theirends supported by the side members of said frame, an idler wheel mountedon the shaft element at each end of the front roller of each pair, apair of idler wheels related to each first mentioned idler wheel anddisposed forwardly and rearwardly thereof, respectively, and thereabove,said pairs of idler wheels being mounted on said frame side members,endless sprocket chains extending over said pairs of idler wheels andbeneath said iirst mentioned idler wheels, article pusher rods extendingbetween said sprocket chains, means for driving said sprocket chains tocause said rods to move over said shelf or platform elements to advancearticles thereover to said grading spaces and also to cause said rods totravel downwardly through said table in advance of said grading spacesand upwardly through said grading spaces to dislodge therefrom and tofurther advance any articles which may become lod-ged therein, and meansfor rotating said rollers to assist in advancing the articles to begraded over said grading table.

10. A machine for grading articles according to size comprising agrading table to. have the articles to be graded advanced thereover,said table having therein, in successively advanced locations as regardsthe direction of advance of the articles, a plurality of article gradingstation spaces of successively greater widths and which extendtransversely to the direction of advance of the articles and throughwhich the articles may gravitate, and means for advancing the articlesover said table to said grading station spaces and adapted to travelthrough a tortuous path that extends substantially the length of saidtable, said means traveling above said table onlybetween said stations.

' GEORGEl M. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,512,240 Ryan Oct. 21, 19242,370,262 Sandmeyer Feb. 27, 1945 1,099,407 Swayger June 9, 19142,365,822 Jones Dec. 26, 1944 908,012 Koistinen Dec. 29, 1908 2,295,190Zenge et al. Sept. 8, 1942 1,839,614 Symons Jan. 5, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 440,407 Germany Feb. 5, 1927

